Belfast Solidarity Action with Migrant Workers: Sat. 23rd Nov

As part of a country wide effort to highlight the treatment of Migrant Workers and that of their families, members of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) will be holding a solidarity picket in Belfast to highlight their plight, in conjunction with the MASI - Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland.

Ahead of Saturdays solidarity action a spokesperson for the Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland group said "On the 4th July this year, the Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland was appalled after meeting several asylum seeking families stuck in the Maldron Hotel in Roxboro Limerick city without basic supports like nappies, baby formula, sanitary products for women, and toiletries. We had to ask Irish people to donate those items for asylum seekers.

"The Irish government contracted the Maldron hotel to provide a bed and 3 meals a day for asylum seekers who aren't allowed to work which turns the hotel into an open prison. They didn't even have laundry facilities for the asylum seekers living in the Maldron hotel. Irish people had to collect dirty clothes from asylum seekers to wash in their homes then bring them back to the hotel. That is no way to live. The hotels and BnBs are making on average €100 per night for each asylum seeker living in their accommodation. Its time for the Irish government to prioritise human rights and end the profiteering through the asylum system."

A spokesperson for the IWW said that "The systematic ill-treatment of migrant workers and the failure to obtain their basic human rights has been reported time and time again in the media yet little or nothing has changed. Hundreds are dying attempting to reach the shores of Europe while many more are subjected to ill-treatment and imprisonment. As part of a series of country wide actions we are taking this opportunity to join with others to demand an end to the racist policy of direct provision system and to highlight those who continue to profit from this continuing misery. For ourselves as a union created by migrant workers our message is clear, we demand an end to the direct provision system - Migrant rights are workers rights!"

Solidarity action will now be held this coming Saturday 23rd November at 5.30pm at the Maldron Hotel, 20 Brunswick St, BT2 7 Belfast.

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